The Brian Ritchie Collection of H.E.I.C. and British India Medals

The Indian Mutiny C.B. group of four to Major-General Arthur Scudamore, 14th Light Dragoons, who was dangerously wounded at Goojerat and commanded a wing of the 14th Light Dragoons in the campaign in Central India

(a) The Most Honourable Order of the Bath (Military) C.B., breast badge, 22 carat gold and enamels, hallmarked London 1859, maker’s mark WN, complete with swivel-ring suspension and gold ribbon buckle

(b) Ghuznee 1839, unnamed as issued, fitted with contemporary scroll suspension

(c) Punjab 1848-49, 2 clasps, Chilianwala, Goojerat (Capt. A. Scudamore, 14th Lt. Dragns.)

(d) Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 1 clasp, Central India (Major A. Scudamore, 14th Lgt. Drgns.) the medals on a contemporary mounting as worn, the ribbons rather frayed, the first two campaign medals with pitting and contact marks, good fine or better, otherwise good very fine (4) £4000-5000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Brian Ritchie Collection of H.E.I.C. and British India Medals.

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The medals are accompanied by an1821 Pattern Light Cavalry Sword, steel three-bar hilt, the 35-inch pipe-back blade stamped Eeves & Co, with steel scabbard, and an interesting archive of original documents, including 10 Commissions reflecting all of Scudamore’s steps in rank from Cornet to Major-General, Warrant of Appointment as a Companion of the Bath, a hand-drawn campaign map, and a good quantity of original field instructions, orders and intelligence reports from the campaign in Central India.

Arthur Scudamore was born on 26 March 1816 at Maidstone, Kent, and was commissioned Cornet in the 4th Light Dragoons on 29 May 1835. He arrived in India in November 1836, and was promoted Lieutenant without purchase on 18 February 1838. He took part with his regiment in the invasion of Afghanistan under Sir John Keane and was present at the Siege and Capture of Ghuznee in 1839. He came home in February 1843, and returned to India in April 1844, having transferred to H.M’s 14th Light Dragoons. He became Captain by purchase in October 1847, and the following year was stationed at Ferozepore, when the militant strength of the Sikhs again threatened the Pax Britannica, causing Lord Dalhousie to declare, “Unwarned by precedents, uninfluenced by example the Sikh Nation has called for War and on my word, sirs, they will have it with a vengeance.”

By mid October 1848, the Sikh leader, Shere Singh, had effected a junction with other rebels from Bannu and elsewhere, and had concentrated his forces at Ramnagar on the south side of the River Chenab, fifty-five miles northwest of Lahore. In response, the Army of the Punjab under Hugh Gough, was in full march from Ferozepore, and at its the advance Shere Singh started to pull his forces back to the north side of the Chenab. On 21 November, Gough sent one of his two cavalry brigades, comprising the 3rd and 14th Light Dragoons and the 5th and 8th Bengal Light Cavalry, forward to make a reconnaissance in force and discover if there was a chance of cutting off any substantial body of the enemy left on the south bank. The Chenab at Ramnagar was very wide but mainly dry with a sandy and treacherous bottom, the actual channel being quite narrow. At one point in the river bed there was a patch of greenery which formed a sort of island held by approximately 3,000 Sikhs and a six gun battery. Both banks were high and the ground leading to the south bank was intersected by a number of dry nullahs occupied by Sikh sharpshooters. The Sikhs had massed their artillery on the north bank with only the muzzles showing.

Contact with the enemy was made early on the morning of the 22nd. The 3rd Light Dragoons were ordered to charge a body of Sikh horse which had crossed the river, and succeeded in driving them back. The charge brought the leading British troops within range of the Sikh guns, causing the 3rd L.D. to retire, but during this manoeuvre one gun and two limbers belonging to the supporting Horse Artillery became stuck in the river bed and had to be abandoned in the face of a heavy fire.

Jubilant, the Sikhs began swarming across the river to take possession of these trophies. Gough, who had come up with the intention of returning to his camp for breakfast, was alarmed to find the reconnaissance turning into a cavalry action. After hearing of the loss of the gun he rode forward to locate Brigadier Cureton, the colourful commander of the reconnaissance. Gough found Cureton at the front of the 14th Light Dragoons and having just given Scudamore’s Commanding Officer, Colonel Will Havelock, orders to charge a large body of Ghorchurras (elite Sikh irregular cavalry) which had crossed the river on the British right. This the 14th successfully did, but unfortunately Havelock, an impetuous officer who found total release in battle, then saw another body of Sikhs and decided to charge them also. Seeing Havelock forming his men for a second charge, Cureton, realising the suicidal nature of the attack, galloped forward to stop them. He was however shot and killed by a Sikh concealed in a nullah before he could reach Havelock.

Gough looked on in fascinated horror, and sent another officer, Major Tucker, to arrest the progress of the 14th Light Dragoons. But Havelock was too far ahead. The regiment plunged over the steep river bank and into the teeth of the enemy’s artillery fire from the green island and the north bank. The Sikhs stood firm on the island and a bloody hand to hand contest ensued. Havelock’s grey went down; a knot of nine troopers instantly closed around him; his body and theirs, were found together after the battle. In carrying out their self imposed task the 14th lost two officers, one sergeant and thirteen other ranks, and thirty-seven horses killed; five officers, including Scudamore, who was ‘sabred in the face’; four sergeants and eighteen other ranks and fifteen horses wounded.

Early in the New Year, Gough instituted a turning movement against the Sikh line on the Chenab forcing them back to Chilianwalla where a pitched battle was fought on 13 January 1849. On this occasion Scudamore’s regiment had the misfortune to form part of the brigade commanded by one of the East India Company’s oldest Generals, Brigadier Pope, who was unable to mount his horse without assistance and whose grasp of cavalry tactics was similarly infirm. Posted on the right of Gough’s line, Pope ordered his brigade to advance in a single line without sending scouts ahead nor holding any squadrons in reserve. As the brigade moved forward it began to drift to the left, thereby masking the supporting fire of the horse artillery. The 14th Light Dragoons who where on the left of the brigade, reported the situation to the Brigadier, in order that he might rectify it by commencing a movement to the ground on the right with the command of “Threes Right!”

Then three things happened very quickly, Pope was wounded; some officers of the Bengal Light Cavalry who had charged ahead and encountered a body of Sikh horse, came galloping back; and someone shouted the fatal command “Threes About!” To the amazement of the 14th Light Dragoons and the 9th Lancers, under Major Hope Grant (Ritchie 1-110), on the outer wings, the 1st and 6th Bengal Light Cavalry in the centre immediately wheeled to the rear. Although somewhat baffled, the 9th and 14th conformed, and the Sikh cavalry, seeing a chance, charged. Whereupon the 1st and 6th Bengal Light Cavalry panicked and, digging in their spurs, fled from the field, allowing the Sikhs to over-run a number of guns. Meanwhile, the 9th Lancers and the 14th Light Dragoons made a desperate bid to put sufficient distance between themselves and the enemy so that they could turn and face their pursuers. Once this difficult manouevre had been accomplished the Sikhs were easily driven off with some loss. The 14th Light Dragoons, however, became extremely bitter about the affair, and for many years afterwards the merest mention of the words “Threes About!” to a Trooper of the regiment would invariably result in a punch-up. The commanding officer of the 14th shot himself some months later, upset by slurs on his personal courage.

Scudamore was next present in action on 21 February 1849 at Goojerat, when Lord Gough intercepted Sher Singh, who, having received substantial reinforcements, including a large Afghan contingent, was attempting to cross the Chenab and march on Lahore. During this action, in which Scudamore was dangerously wounded, the 14th Light Dragoons served with the 2nd Cavalry Brigade on the right flank, spending the day balking moves by large bodies of Afghan horsemen, and later taking part in the pursuit of enemy which continued until dusk. After the battle of Goojerat, the Sikhs were all but beaten, and it only remained to chase the Afghans up to the Khyber Pass. The Punjab was finally annexed on 1 April 1849, and a great victory secured by Lord Gough.

Scudamore remained with his regiment in India until 4 December 1854, when he returned home, having been promoted Major without purchase on 1 June of that year. He returned to India on 21 August 1857, and was appointed to the command of the right wing of his regiment, which, as part of Sir Hugh Rose’s Central India Field Force, marched out from Sehore on 6 January 1858 with the 2nd Brigade under the command Brigadier Charles Steuart (see Lot 44). The first task of the 2nd Brigade, which Sir Hugh accompanied, was the reduction of the fortress of Rathgurh. After a three day siege, a breach was made practicable, but the rebel Rajah of Banpur closed on the brigade’s rear. His followers, however, were quickly beaten off by the 3rd Bombay Light Cavalry and the 14th Light Dragoons. The rebels, witnessing the failure of the Rajah, abandoned the fort during the night and joined his men in a position behind the River Bina near Barodia, from which they were smartly ejected on the 31st. On 3 February, the garrison at Saugor was relieved after a seven month siege.

Leaving Saugor after a few days rest, Scudamore was next present at the capture of the fort at Garakhota which was abandoned by its garrison after a token defence on 12 February. The enemy was then pursued by a specially formed flying column which rejoined the main force, having killed a hundred rebels. Rose now concentrated his energies in the direction of Jhansi, but to get there he had to cross a range of hills through which there were only two passes, the Malthone and the Muddenpore. He ordered Scudamore, with one squadron, one battery and some native infantry to make a feint against the Malthone held by the Rajah of Banpur, while the main force fought its way through the Muddenpore held by the Rajah of Shagahr. Sir Hugh Rose’s tactics were successful, and Scudamore duly received his thanks. In his History of the Indian Mutiny, Malleson wrote ‘The effect of this victory was very great. It so daunted the rebels that they evacuated without a blow the formidable pass of Malthone, the fort of Narhat to the rear of it, the little fort of Sarahi, the strong fort of Maraura, the fortified castle of Banpur (the residence of the Rajah called after it), and the almost impregnable fortress of Tal-Bahat on the heights above the lake of that name. They abandoned also the line of the Bina and the Betwa, with the exception of the fortress of Chanderi, on the left bank of the latter river.’

The latter stronghold was captured by troops of the 1st Brigade, Central India Field Force, advancing from Mhow on 17 March. Both brigades then arrived before Jhansi and commenced the investment of that formidable stronghold on the 22nd. No sooner than the investment had begun Sir Hugh Rose learnt that the Rani of Jhansi had asked Nana Sahib for help and that he had despatched his principal comander, Tantia Topi, with 22,000 men and twenty-eight guns, to break the siege. To meet this threat Rose divided his force and sent 1500 men, including Scudamore and two squadrons of the 14th, to arrrest the progress of the enemy on the Betwa. The repulse of the enemy, who cleverly covered their retreat by setting fire to the jungle, totally demoralised the Jhansi garrison and the fortress and fortified city was stormed on 3 April. Around the city, Scudamore and Major Gall, with their respective wings of the 14th were ordered to establish cavalry flying camps to prevent anyone escaping. The ferocious Rani, however, managed to make good her escape. For his services at Jhansi, Scudamore was mentioned in Sir Hugh Rose’s despatch dated ‘Camp Mote, April 30, 1858’.

On 7 May, Scudamore took part in the Battle of Kunch where the 1st and 2nd Brigades delivered a converging attack on the enemy sending them streaming back in disorder along the Calpee road. The exertions of the action, fought in a temperature of 100 degrees, were too much for Scudamore and many others, and he was prostrated by heatstroke. Major Gall assumed temporary command and the march was resumed to Calpee where Tantia Topi had his principal arsenal. The layout of Calpee presented the enemy with an ideal opportunity for a defence in depth, which was sure to cost Rose heavy casualties. However, the rebels, led by Tantia Topi, the Rani of Jhansi, the Nawab of Banda, and Nana Sahib’s nephew, Rao Sahib, entirely wasted the opportunity by coming out to attack the Field Force on 22 May. They were held with some difficulty, then decisively repulsed and pursued towards Gwalior.

Scudamore resumed command shortly before the rebel forces were engaged in the ravines that intersected the ground before the Morar cantonments on 16 June. On this occasion, the 14th, supported the right wing of H.M’s 71st Regiment. Brigadier Napier, commanding the 2nd Brigade, wrote in his despatch: ‘I beg particularly to recommend to the Major-General’s notice ... Major Scudamore, commanding the right wing of the her Majesty’s 14th Light Dragoons, which was skilfully handled and ready for every call for its services. His skirmishers attacked and destroyed many of the enemy in the ravines.’ Gwalior was attacked and captured on 20 June, and the following day all that was left of the rebel army in Central India, 10,000, men attempted a stand at Jowra-Alipur, in which they lost all their remaining guns, elephants and equipment. Tantia Topi, cunning as usual, managed to make good his escape.

On 20 July, Scudamore was appointed Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel, and with the work of the Central India Field Force complete, he was despatched in command of a flying column for the next six months scouring the country for rebel bands. At the close of the year, the rebellion briefly flared when Firuz Shah, the Moghul prince whom Colin Campbell had driven out of Rohilkhund, returned to the fray. His army, however, was roundly beaten at Ranode on 17 December. Immediately after the battle, Napier wrote to Scudamore: ‘This morning the enemy were beaten and pursued with slaughter for eight miles, your glorious fourteenth going a mere handful into the mass without looking twice...’

In April 1859, Major Richard Meade (Ritchie 1-109) persuaded Man Singh, the Rajah of Narwar, to betray Tantia Topi. Scudamore was appointed President of the Court-Martial which tried and sentenced him to death at Sipri. The public hanging took place at 4 p.m. on the 18th of that month and after the guard marched off, ‘a great scramble was made by officers and others to get a lock of hair.’ In 1860, with a C.B. and three mentions in despatches to his credit, Scudamore sailed for home with his regiment which had been in India for nineteen years. On 19 June 1861, he was appointed to the command of the regiment, and it was during his time as Commanding Officer that the regiment was converted to Hussars at Newbridge on 21 August 1861. On the 8th of October he exchanged to the command of the 7th Hussars with Lieutenant-Colonel Sir William Russell. In 1873, he was appointed to the command of the 34th Brigade Depot at Exeter, and commanded a cavalry brigade in the Dartmoor Manoeuvres held in the autumn of the same year. He retired with the rank of Major-General and died at Darmstadt on 11 January 1880.

Refs: Historical Record of the 14th (King’s) Hussars (Hamilton); WO 76/28.